IGCSE/O LEVEL

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VECTORS

Past Papers
(2011-2021)
Including Variants
1 Relative to an origin O, points A and B have position vectors 冢 –65冣 and 冢 –1329冣 respectively. For
Examiner’s
Use

(i) Find a unit vector parallel to AB . [3]

The points A, B and C lie on a straight line such that 2 AC = 3 AB .

(ii) Find the position vector of the point C. [4]

© UCLES 2011 4037/12/M/J/11

2 For
Examiner’s
A X Use

a P

O B
b

2
In the diagram OA = a, OB = b and AP = AB .
5
(i) Given that OX = μ OP , where μ is a constant, express OX in terms of μ, a and b. [3]

(ii) Given also that AX = λ OB , where λ is a constant, use a vector method to find the value of μ
and of λ. [5]

© UCLES 2011 4037/21/O/N/11

3 For
Examiner’s
Use

B
X

O A
S

⎯→ ⎯→ ⎯→ 3 ⎯ → ⎯→ 7⎯ →
In the diagram above OA = a, OB = b, OS = OA and OT = 5 OB.
5
⎯→ ⎯→ ⎯→
(i) Given that AX = l AB , where l is a constant, express OX in terms of l, a and b. [2]
⎯→ ⎯→ ⎯→
(ii) Given that SX = k ST , where k is a constant, express OX in terms of k, a and b. [4]

(iii) Hence evaluate l and k. [4]

P
4

O Q
D

⎯
→ ⎯→
In the diagram above OC = c and OD = d. The points P and Q lie on OC and OD produced
respectively, so that OC : CP = 1 : 2 and OD : DQ = 2 : 1. The line CD is extended to R so that
CD = DR.
⎯→ ⎯ → ⎯→
(i) Find, in terms of c and/or d, the vectors OP, OQ and OR. [5]

(ii) Show that the points P, Q and R are collinear and find the ratio PQ : QR. [5]

© UCLES 2011 4037/22/O/N/11

© UCLES 2011 4037/22/O/N/11
5 Relative to an origin O, the position vectors of the points A and B are 2i – 3j and 11i + 42j For
respectively. Examiner’s
Use
→
(i) Write down an expression for AB . [2]

→ →
The point C lies on AB such that AC = 1 AB .
3
→
(ii) Find the length of OC. [4]

→ → →
The point D lies on OA such that DC is parallel to OB .

(iii) Find the position vector of D. [2]

© UCLES 2012 4037/21/M/J/12

 → → For
6 The points X, Y and Z are such that XY = 3YZ . The position vectors of X and Z, relative to an Examiner’s

冢 冣 冢 冣
Use
4 20 →
origin O, are –27 and –7 respectively. Find the unit vector in the direction OY . [5]

© UCLES 2012 4037/23/O/N/12

7
A For
Examiner’s
Use

a P

B
b

O
Q c
C
The figure shows points A, B and C with position vectors a, b and c respectively, relative to
an origin O. The point P lies on AB such that AP: AB = 3: 4 . The point Q lies on OC such that
OQ: QC = 2: 3.
1^
(i) Express AP in terms of a and b and hence show that OP = a + 3bh. [3]
4

(ii) Find PQ in terms of a, b and c. [3]

© UCLES 2013 4037/11/M/J/13

 (iii) Given that 5PQ = 6BC , find c in terms of a and b. [2] For
Examiner’s
Use

© UCLES 2013 4037/11/M/J/13

8 The position vectors of the points A and B, relative to an origin O, are 4i – 21j and 22i – 30j For
respectively. The point C lies on AB such that AB = 3AC . Examiner’s
Use
(i) Find the position vector of C relative to O. [4]

(ii) Find the unit vector in the direction OC . [2]

© UCLES 2013 4037/22/M/J/13

 J4N J2N J- 5N
9 K O
Vectors a, b and c are such that a = , b = K O and c = K O .
3
L P 2
L P L2P
(i) Show that a = b + c . [2]

(ii) Given that ma + nb = 7c , find the value of m and of n. [3]

© UCLES 2014 4037/11/M/J/14

10
A

P
R

O B
Q

The position vectors of points A and B relative to an origin O are a and b respectively. The point P
is such that OP = n OA . The point Q is such that OQ = m OB . The lines AQ and BP intersect at the
point R.

(i) Express AQ in terms of m, a and b. [1]

(ii) Express BP in terms of n , a and b. [1]

It is given that 3AR = AQ and 8BR = 7BP .

(iii) Express OR in terms of m, a and b. [2]

© UCLES 2014 0437/12/O/N/14

 (iv) Express OR in terms of n , a and b. [2]

(v) Hence find the value of n and of m. [3]

© UCLES 2014 0437/12/O/N/14

11
R

3a
Q
X
a
O P
b

In the diagram OP = b , PQ = a and OR = 3a . The lines OQ and PR intersect at X.

(i) Given that OX = n OQ , express OX in terms of n , a and b. [1]

(ii) Given that RX = mRP , express OX in terms of m, a and b. [2]

RX
(iii) Hence find the value of n and of m and state the value of the ratio . [3]
XP

© UCLES 2014 4037/23/O/N/14

12
4a B
A

X
b

D C
7a

In the diagram AB = 4a, BC = b and DC = 7a. The lines AC and DB intersect at the point X. Find, in
terms of a and b,

(i) DA, [1]

(ii) DB. [1]

Given that AX = mAC , find, in terms of a, b and m,

(iii) AX , [1]

(iv) DX . [2]

© UCLES 2015 4037/12/M/J/15

 Given that DX = nDB ,

(v) find the value of m and of n . [4]

© UCLES 2015 4037/12/M/J/15

13 (a) The four points O, A, B and C are such that

OA = 5a , OB = 15b , OC = 24b - 3a .

Show that B lies on the line AC. [3]

(b) Relative to an origin O, the position vector of the point P is i – 4j and the position vector of the
point Q is 3i + 7j. Find

(i) PQ , [2]

(ii) the unit vector in the direction PQ, [1]

(iii) the position vector of M, the mid-point of PQ. [2]

© UCLES 2015 4037/21/M/J/15

14 O, P, Q and R are four points such that OP = p , OQ = q and OR = 3q - 2p .

(i) Find, in terms of p and q,

(a) PQ, [1]

(b) QR. [1]

(ii) Justifying your answer, what can be said about the positions of the points P, Q and R? [2]

(iii) Given that OP = i + 3j and that OQ = 2i + j, find the unit vector in the direction OR. [3]

© UCLES 2016 4037/21/M/J/16

15 In this question i is a unit vector due east and j is a unit vector due north. Units of length and velocity
are metres and metres per second respectively.

The initial position vectors of particles A and B, relative to a fixed point O, are i +5j and qi – 15j
respectively. A and B start moving at the same time. A moves with velocity pi – 3j and B moves with
velocity 3i – j.

(i) Given that A travels with a speed of 5 ms–1, find the value of the positive constant p. [1]

(ii) Find the direction of motion of B as a bearing correct to the nearest degree. [2]

(iii) State the position vector of A after t seconds . [1]

(iv) State the position vector of B after t seconds. [1]

© UCLES 2016 4037/23/O/N/16

 (v) Find the time taken until A and B meet. [2]

(vi) Find the position vector of the point where A and B meet. [1]

(vii) Find the value of the constant q. [1]

© UCLES 2016 4037/23/O/N/16

16 (a)
B

a b
M

O C
c

The diagram shows a figure OABC, where OA = a , OB = b and OC = c . The lines AC and OB
intersect at the point M where M is the midpoint of the line AC.

(i) Find, in terms of a and c, the vector OM . [2]

(ii) Given that OM : MB = 2 : 3, find b in terms of a and c. [2]

© UCLES 2017 4037/11/M/J/17

 (b) Vectors i and j are unit vectors parallel to the x-axis and y-axis respectively.

The vector p has a magnitude of 39 units and has the same direction as -10i + 24j.

(i) Find p in terms of i and j. [2]

(ii) Find the vector q such that 2p + q is parallel to the positive y-axis and has a magnitude of
12 units. [3]

(iii) Hence show that q = k 5 , where k is an integer to be found. [2]

© UCLES 2017 4037/11/M/J/17

17 Vectors i and j are unit vectors parallel to the x-axis and y-axis respectively.

(a) The vector v has a magnitude of 3 5 units and has the same direction as i - 2 j. Find v giving
your answer in the form a i + b j, where a and b are integers. [2]

(b) The velocity vector w makes an angle of 30° with the positive x-axis and is such that w = 2 .
Find w giving your answer in the form c i + d j, where c and d are integers. [2]

© UCLES 2017 4037/12/M/J/17

18
D

O B C

The diagram shows points O, A, B, C, D and X. The position vectors of A, B and C relative to O are
3
OA = a , OB = b and OC = b . The vector CD = 3a .
2
(i) If OX = m OD express OX in terms of m, a and b. [1]

(ii) If AX = nAB express OX in terms of n, a and b. [2]

(iii) Use your two expressions for OX to find the value of m and of n. [3]

© UCLES 2017 4037/23/O/N/17

 AX
(iv) Find the ratio . [1]
XB

OX
(v) Find the ratio . [1]
XD

© UCLES 2017 4037/23/O/N/17

19 Vectors i and j are vectors parallel to the x-axis and y-axis respectively.

Given that a = 2i + 3j, b = i − 5j and c = 3i + 11j, find

(i) the exact value of a+c , [2]

(ii) the value of the constant m such that a + mb is parallel to j, [2]

(iii) the value of the constant n such that na − b = c. [2]

© UCLES 2018 4037/22/M/J/18

 - 12
20 (a) The vector v has a magnitude of 39 units and is in the same direction as e o . Write v in the
5
a
form e o , where a and b are constants. [2]
b

r+s 5r + 1
(b) Vectors p and q are such that p = e o and q = e o , where r and s are constants. Given that
r+6 2s - 1
0
2p + 3q = e o , find the value of r and of s. [4]
0

© UCLES 2018 4037/12/O/N/18

21 (a) Find the unit vector in the direction of 5i - 15 j. [2]

3 12
(b) The position vectors of points A and B relative to an origin O are e o and e o respectively. The
-5 7
point C lies on AB such that AC : CB is 2 : 1.

(i) Find the position vector of C relative to O. [3]

© UCLES 2019 4037/22/M/J/19

 6
The point D lies on OB such that OD : OB is 1 : m and DC = e o.
1.25
(ii) Find the value of m. [3]

© UCLES 2019 4037/22/M/J/19

22
B

O A C

The diagram shows points O, A, B, C, D and X. The position vectors of A, B, and C relative to O are OA = a,
OB = 2b and OC = 3a . The vector CD = b .

(i) Given that AX = m AD , find OX in terms of m, a and b. [2]

(ii) Given that BX = n BC , find OX in terms of n, a and b. [2]

© UCLES 2019 4037/23/O/N/19

 (iii) Hence find the value of m and of n. [4]

AX
(iv) Find the ratio . [1]
XD

© UCLES 2019 4037/23/O/N/19

23
A

O R
B

The diagram shows a triangle OAB such that OA = a and OB = b . The point P lies on OA such that
3
OP = OA . The point Q is the mid-point of AB. The lines OB and PQ are extended to meet at the
4
point R. Find, in terms of a and b,

(a) AB, [1]

(b) PQ. Give your answer in its simplest form. [3]

© UCLES 2020 4037/12/M/J/20

 It is given that nPQ = QR and BR = kb, where n and k are positive constants.

(c) Find QR in terms of n, a and b. [1]

(d) Find QR in terms of k, a and b. [2]

(e) Hence find the value of n and of k. [3]

© UCLES 2020 4037/12/M/J/20

 24 The vectors a and b are such that a = ai + j and b = 12i + bj.

(a) Find the value of each of the constants a and b such that 4a - b = (a + 3) i - 2j. [3]

(b) Hence find the unit vector in the direction of b - 4a. [2]

© UCLES 2020 4037/21/M/J/20

25
A

Y
X

O b B C

The diagram shows the triangle OAC. The point B is the midpoint of OC. The point Y lies on AC such
that OY intersects AB at the point X where AX : XB = 3:1. It is given that OA = a and OB = b .

(a) Find OX in terms of a and b, giving your answer in its simplest form. [3]

(b) Find AC in terms of a and b. [1]

© UCLES 2020 4037/13/O/N/20

 (c) Given that OY = h OX , find AY in terms of a, b and h. [1]

(d) Given that AY = mAC , find the value of h and of m. [4]

© UCLES 2020 4037/13/O/N/20

26

P a Q

2b R
X
b

O S
3a

In the diagram OP = 2b , OS = 3a , SR = b and PQ = a . The lines OR and QS intersect at X.

(a) Find OQ in terms of a and b. [1]

(b) Find QS in terms of a and b. [1]

(c) Given that QX = n QS , find OX in terms of a, b and n. [1]

(d) Given that OX = m OR , find OX in terms of a, b and m. [1]

© UCLES 2020 4037/22/O/N/20

 (e) Find the value of m and of n. [3]

QX
(f) Find the value of . [1]
XS

OR
(g) Find the value of . [1]
OX

© UCLES 2020 4037/22/O/N/20

27
A

a
B
P
b
O

c
C

The diagram shows the quadrilateral OABC such that OA = a , OB = b and OC = c . The lines OB and
AC intersect at the point P, such that AP : PC = 3 : 2 .

(a) Find OP in terms of a and c. [3]

(b) Given also that OP : PB = 2 : 3, show that 2b = 3c + 2a . [2]

© UCLES 2021 4037/12/M/J/21

28 (a)
A

a B

O c C

The diagram shows triangle OAC, where OA = a , OB = b and OC = c . The point B lies on the
line AC such that AB : BC = m : n , where m and n are constants.

(i) Write down AB in terms of a and b. [1]

(ii) Write down BC in terms of b and c. [1]

(iii) Hence show that na + mc = (m + n) b . [2]

-4 4
(b) Given that m e o + (n - 1) e o = (m + 1) e o, find the value of each of the constants m and n.
2
1 7 -2
[4]

© UCLES 2021 4037/12/O/N/21

29 The vector p has magnitude 39 and is in the direction - 5i + 12j. The vector q has magnitude 34 and is
in the direction 15i - 8j.

(a) Write both p and q in terms of i and j. [4]

(b) Find the magnitude of p + q and the angle this vector makes with the positive x-axis. [4]

© UCLES 2021 4037/23/O/N/21

 Answers

! 24 12.(i) 3𝑎 − 𝑏
1.(i)"# ( )
−7
(ii) 7𝑎 − 𝑏
41
(ii)
−16.5 (iii)𝜆(4𝑎 + 𝑏)
$ "
2. (i)µ(# 𝑎 + # 𝑏) (iv)3𝑎 − 𝑏 + 𝜆(4𝑎 + 𝑏)
# " ) %
(ii)µ = $ ; 𝜆 = $ (v)𝜆 = !! , 𝜇 = !!

3.(i) 𝑎 + µ(𝑏 − 𝑎) 13b.(i) √125

$ % $ %& $' !
(ii)𝑂𝑆 = # ; 𝑂𝑇 = # 𝑏; 𝑂𝑋 = # 𝑎 + 𝜆( # − ) (ii) #√# (2𝑖 + 11𝑗)
#

! % (iii)2𝑖 + 1.5𝑗
(iii)𝜆=" µ = !(
$ 14(i)a. 𝑞 − 𝑝
4.(i) 𝑂𝑃 = 3𝑐; 𝑂𝑄 = " 𝑑; 𝑂𝑅 = 2𝑑 − 𝑐
b. 2𝑞 − 2𝑝
(ii)3: 1
(ii)𝑃𝑄 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑠𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑄𝑅 & 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑜𝑛 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡
)
(iii)$ 𝑖 − 2𝑗 !
(iii) (4𝑖 − 3𝑗)
#
5.(i)9𝑖 + 45𝑗
15.(i) 𝑝 = 4
(ii)13
(ii) 108
0.8
6.[ ] 1 𝑝
−0.6 (iii)Q R + 𝑡 Q R
5 −3
$
7.(i) 𝐴𝑃 = ) (𝑏 − 𝑎) 𝑞 3
(iv)Q R+𝑡Q R
" ' $& −15 −1
(ii)# 𝑐 − ) − )
(v)𝑡 = 10
*&+#'
(iii)𝐶 = !, 41
(vi)( )
−25
8. (i)10𝑖 − 24𝑗
(vii)𝑞 = 11
!
(ii)!$ (5𝑖 − 12𝑗) !
16a.(i)" (𝑎 + 𝑐)
9.(i)𝐵𝑜𝑡ℎ 𝑎𝑟𝑒 5
#
(ii)) (𝑎 + 𝑐)
(ii)𝜆 = −49, 𝜇 = 80.5
b(i)𝑝 = −15 + 36𝑗
10.(i) 𝜆𝑏 − 𝑎
(ii)𝑞 = 30𝑖 − 60𝑗
(ii)𝜇𝑎 − 𝑏
" ! (iii)|𝑞| = 30√5
(iii)$ 𝑎 + $ 𝜆𝑏
18.(𝑖) 𝜆(1.5𝑏 + 3𝑎)
! %
(iv)- 𝑏 + - 𝜇𝑎
(ii) 𝑎 + 𝜇(𝑏 − 𝑎)
!, $
(v)𝜇 = "! ; 𝜆 = - ! "
(iii) 𝜇 = $ 𝜆 = *
11.(i)𝜇(𝑎 + 𝑏) !
(iv)"
(ii)3𝑎 + 𝜆(𝑏 − 3𝑎)
"
(v)
(iii)3: 1 %

!
(iii)Q0, − "R 𝑀𝑎𝑥
 " $
19.(i) √221 27a. 𝑎 + 𝑐
# #
(ii) 𝑚 = −2 b. 2𝑏 = 2𝑎 + 3𝑐
(iii)𝑛 = 2 28a.(i) −𝑎 + 𝑏
−12
20a. 3( ) (ii)−𝑏 + 𝑐
5
+$ b. 𝜇 = 5 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜆 = −1
b. 𝑟 = 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠 = "
29a. 𝑝 = −15𝑖 + 36𝑗 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑞 = 30𝑖 − 16𝑗
!
21a. #√!( (5𝑖 − 15𝑗)
b. 53.1
9
b.(i)( )
3
(ii)𝜆 = 4
22.(i) 𝑎 + 𝜆(2𝑎 + 𝑏)
(ii)2𝑏 + 𝜇(3𝑎 − 2𝑏)
) #
(iii)𝜆 = % 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜇 = %
)
(iv)$

23a. 𝑏 − 𝑎
! !
b. " 𝑏 − ) 𝑎
! !
c. 𝑛(" 𝑏 − ) 𝑎)
!
d. (𝑏 − 𝑎) + 𝑘𝑏
"
!
e. 𝑛 = 2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑘 =
"

24a. ∝= 5 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝛽 = 6
"/+-0
b. a.
√,-

' $
25a. ) + ) 𝑏

b. 2𝑏 − 𝑎

' $
c. −𝑎 + ℎ Q) + ) 𝑏R

- $
d. ℎ = 𝑚=
# #

26a. 2𝑏 + 𝑎
b. 2𝑎 − 2𝑏
c. 2𝑏 + 𝑎 + 𝜇(2𝑎 − 2𝑏)
d. 𝜆(3𝑎 + 𝑏)
$ #
e. 𝜆 = ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜇 = -
#
f. $
)
g. $